Johnny Depp’s Lawyer Weighs In on Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s Legal Battle

The high-profile legal showdown between It Ends With Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively is heating up, with one of Johnny Depp’s former lawyers weighing in on the latest developments.

Attorney Benjamin Chew, who famously defended Depp in his 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard, appeared on the Law & Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weber podcast on February 4. He discussed Baldoni’s bold decision to publish an amended complaint and a “Timeline of Events” on a website before a court hearing.

“I agree—bold, aggressive, chutzpah, whatever the right term is,” Chew said. “Usually, you would not do something like that before a hearing.” He added that while making legal filings public isn’t uncommon, moving into advocacy with such a website could push legal boundaries.

Legal Battle Escalates

Lively and Baldoni’s legal teams met in court for the first time on February 3 in New York City. Judge Lewis Liman warned both parties to tone down their public relations war or risk an expedited trial.

The dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged he orchestrated a smear campaign to ruin her reputation. Baldoni fired back on January 16 with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, claiming extortion and defamation.

Despite the judge’s warnings, both sides remain confident. Lively’s lawyers stated, “We will hold the defendants accountable… Ms. Lively will prevail.” Meanwhile, Baldoni’s attorney Brian Freedman told reporters, “I couldn’t be more pleased with how the case was handled today. We’re going to move as quickly as possible and prove our innocence.”

What’s Next?

The legal battle is far from over, with a trial scheduled for March 2026. When asked which side has the stronger case, Chew remained neutral but noted that audiotapes, videotapes, and text messages could be game-changers.

“Whenever you can hang someone with their own language, and they have to explain what they meant—it’s a bad day for them,” he said.

With high stakes and Hollywood reputations on the line, all eyes will be on how this courtroom drama unfolds.